Disgusting

Fatty foods, high sugar content, high salt contents and high cholesterol is killing America. First of all, I applaud Morgan Spurlock for partaking in this grand experiment. He risked his health and his life for the sake of proving to the everyday American that America does have a fast food problem. While he is biased against McDonalds, he still provides the facts more effectively, in my opinion, than Michael Moore did. The Visual effect of seeing the overly obese people truly made me think twice about whether or not I want to eat McDonalds and risk becoming morbidly obese. If I were to partake in an experiment similar to Spurlock’s I would choose to do it for school lunches. Schools do not serve healthy food and in many ways the food they sell is worse than that of McDonalds. I would showcase the negative effects of school lunches because I was a product of school lunches for almost 8 years! The switch in services to the food service we currently use has taken the cooking out of schools. I think the schools and students, would be better served serving healthier options in order to help prevent weight problems now and in the future.

Go Daddy

In the Go Daddy commercial, Go Daddy is a company which sells domain names on the internet for cheap, there is one basic reptilian hot button in play in this ad, sex. Danica Patrick presents herself in an extremely provocative way. Men are naturally inclined to be attracted to women so this commercial is extremely successful in getting the attention of its target audience. It also is able to convey what it is the company does which is selling domain names. This ad appeals to the love and belonging individual desire for fulfillment. People may not know why they want the product but Danica Patrick makes them want to get it because subconsciously they think of her whenever Go Daddy comes up in conversation. It also makes people curious as to what will happen after the commercial is over. They have many commercials like this one and each of them strive to reach the same audience, men. Let me say again, the advertisement is effective, it takes into account many basic human urges which as seen with many other products and advertisements, works splendidly. I can first hand tell that these are effective.

women and financial futures

It is clear that women have come a long way in the past hundred years. They have gained the right to vote and have become the head of many businesses and the main money earner of many families. If this is true, I find it strange that many women are still kept out of the financial situations families go through. As written in an article By Janet Bodnar she writes that while many women are tasked with day to day finances, men are still overwhelmingly tasked with the financial future, that being buying and selling stocks, bonds and mutual funds. It seems silly that even though we have reached almost equal status in most of society, women have not taken a larger part in shaping their own and their family’s future. They should take a larger interest because it is their future too.

Advertisements

Advertisements these days are not focused on persuasion and brainwashing, but their main goal now is to put their product "out there." To market their product is their main objective. Ad campaigns must come up with a clear, concise and usually witty phrase, picture, or video that makes consumers want to buy their product. These ads attepmt to push our "reptilian hot buttons" which make us want to buy the product from them by attacking our subconscience. Their aim is to make consumers skip through all rational thinking when making decisions. Ad campaigns figure consumers will purchase their product out of recognition of the brand name or label. This works in many instances. People see the pepsi symbol everywhere, however people know that coca-cola has the rich tradition being it is an older beverage company. Because ads for Pepsi are everywhere and its new logo looks a lot like Barrack Obamas logo which symbolizes change, people (like me) automatically purchase Pepsi instead of Coke. Linked to this post is an ad for heinz ketchup. When i saw this ad, i automatically saw the ketchup container and thought of using it on french fries. Withouth rationally thinking, a picture of french fries automatically popped up in my head. This ad makes me want to buy ketchup and it has convinced me that ketchup is the only condiment in the world; if you analyze this ad, you will see that everything is black and white except for the container of ketchup. Because without ketchup, it is just an ordinary meal.
http://www.hemmy.net/images/advertisements/withoutheinz01.jpg

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - From Critics to a Cultural Phenomenon

"People criticize what they don't understand." Critics to the award winning novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest claim that it is full of misogynies and racism. Considering this book was written in the early 1960s, these criticisms are understandable at first. But if you think about it, the narrator of this novel is paranoid and schizophrenic so it is obvious why he would create an image of prostitutes for the female characters or refer to the African American orderlies as the'black boys'. These are heinous criticisms because the fact that the author referes to the orderlies as 'black boys' or the women as prostitutes or castraters contributes to the tone of the book. If these were not a part of the book, then it would not be as strong of a novel because the author would claim that the main character is mentally unstable but provide no evidence.

This book also contributed to social changes of the 1960s-it got people more involved with the psychedelic side of life, the paranormal. Because of this book, people started accepting innovation and rejecting tradition. It became all about the 'now' and got rid of the 'then.'

Challenges that Men and Woman Face

Women and men face seperate but equal challenges. Women in the workplace are often dismissed. For example, if a woman were to voice a smart opinion or idea, it would not catch on as well as if a man were to pitch that idea or opinion. Women also have to go through the idea of being tested; they have to somehow 'prove themselves' in order to gain the respect from men. For expample, if a woman and a man were walking next to each other talking and people in the office saw them, they would assume that the male is the superior. Women have to show men how they made it to such a high position. Men face challenges as well. Men face reverse discrimination in the workplace-women are gaining better jobs at the expense of men even though men work as hard for it. Another barrier that men have to overcome is communication. Men understand that women hear things differently than men say them. Therefore, men have to think about what they are going to say when they approach a woman, taking all spontinaity out of the conversation. Although men and women face completely different challenges, both sexes still have to overcome them.

http://www.witi.com/careers/2004/genderdiffs.php

An American Hero

I was watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart the other night, and in between Stewerts satirical cracks at contemporary politics, author Jon Krakauer came on to talk about his new book about Pat Tillman. Pat Tillman’s story is truly tragic, but I thought about how his story would be a perfect transition from 9/11 to gender issues. Tillman was a football player, a soldier, and a husband. He was on his way to superstardom, but during the aftermath of 9/11 he joined the United States Army to defend his country. He was, at this time, a mans man, and even thought of as a bit of a meat head. After his death however, new information came out. Tillman was extremely well read. He had read books including the Bible, Koran and Book of Mormon, as well as authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. He also kept a diary in which he talked about his disappointment with the war in Iraq, which he considered illegal. His disappointment however, would not have stopped him from fighting because he was loyal to his country.
Although his persona said otherwise, Tillman transcended gender stereotypes. He was strong, brave, and loyal. While at the same time well read, emotional, and insightful. Tillman is a person whom all Americans can look up to as a hero, and should be forever remembered as a great man who proved to people that we do not have to be held down by gender norms, but should expand their horizons and do what they want to do.

What It Takes To Be A Man

In our popular culture, gender stereotypes do not define who we are, rather, they shape who we try to be. This could be seen through the effects that Clint Eastwood had during the 1970s after starring in Dirty Harry. A counter-example of this would be Lady GaGa's effects on the horrified US population of the late 2000's; we are all confused Lady GaGa, would you please stop? When we turn on the TV, pick up the paper, or even go to check our email online, we are engulfed with news of the latest trends of "celebs." Celebrity fashion has a great effect on what Americans buy and ultimately on their gender identity. Males have been growing increasingly masculine since the 1960s. This can be seen in the change in the styles of GI Joe action figures: they are becoming more muscularly defined and in turn, more manly. But recently there has been an increase in men who call themselves metrosexual. This means they are heterosexual men who are in touch with their feminine side. This tributary off of the mainstream of "manliness" has also arisen from popular culture. In conclusión, gender stereotypes are not defined, but merely reflected off the messages being sent out by popular culture.

Gender?

With the annual Groves Powder Puff game fast approaching, i think its time we take a step back and examine gender stereotypes encountered at Groves. As far as Powder Puff goes, the game has helped to break down the belief in un-athletic girls. The recent success of womens sports has also conrtibuted. No matter how amazing women may do in athletics, there remains certain unshakeable generalizations. Not all women spend an hour doing their hair before school, many women detest high heels and dresses, some women do not enjoy the latest boy band, and many participate in intellegent conversation. Itis unfair to assosiate a woman being a dumb blond when, without a doubt, there are blond men equally or even more unintellegent who escape critisism solely based on their gender. Similarily, not all men are strong and independent. Some need help with what they go through. Men have unhealthy role models, whether it be Arnold Schwarzenegger, or the new GI joes, they see being a man as being tough and never showing weakness. I disagree, I think that it is important for people to show their emotions. My doctor always used to tell me that boys don't cry, men do. I completely agree. I think a true man shouldnt be afraid to show his emotions Young men should look elsewhere, away from the buff "tough dude", and begin looking to others for rolemodels.

9/11

The nation has felt the widespread effects of 9/11. Not only has it affected us emotionally but it has also affected our culture. However not in the way many thought. Many aspects of daily life go on unchanged, while others have been greatly affected. airport security, obviously, has been changed forever, as many things have changed since the time of our parents. Movies and television have been showing many more disastor, and horror programs. In a way Americans have become descensitized to these types of things. However other things have been changed dramatically. terrorism is no longer a topic for light discussion, most news programs have returned to reporting on the same types of stories as they did pre 9/11. as for Sontags concerns, while she made some valid arguments her timing could not have been worse.

Michael Moore's Attacks on Bush

In the film Farenheight 9/11, Michael Moore's attacks on President Bush may seem inappropriate and uncalled for to many Americans. Every decision made by President Bush in the months following September 11 has been criticized and torn apart by left wing liberals such as Michael Moore. Was the choice to invade Iraq correct or did it just seem like a good idea at the time? This is an example of a message sent out by Michael Moore's Farenheigth 9/11. Although overexaggerated at times, Feranheight 9/11 is a rational piece of discourse. Moore did not make up any facts, the evidence he presents against Bush is reasonable and clear. It is obvious that Moore does not think to fondly about the ex-president, but a personal attack on Bush is not present in this film.

Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?

As I walk through the halls of Groves, I am amazed by the cultural diversity that is around every corner. It is difficult not to notice the different groups around school, whether they be African Americans, Caucasian or Asian. While the ethnic groups do interact, I still feel as if Groves is a salad bowl. People are, for the most part, proud of their heritage and thus want to keep their traditions alive and seperate from others. These cultures do not mix together like they would in a melting pot they stay sperate. Even though they are seperate they still interact and co exist, usually peacefully.